Page 89 of Boss Witch

“You should also know I’ve been streaming this whole time. Every witch in the world can access this feed if they choose. So can all the active hunters that I’m sure have no idea how filthy the order’s secret history is.”

Silent fury twisted Jason Rhys’s features when he registered the phone on Gavin’s bike, held in place for filming in the navigation dock. He lunged in that direction, but surprisingly Echo stepped into his path. His big body became the wall Jase couldn’t pass.

“It’s done,” the hunter said. “No point in raging or breaking his hardware. I’m one who didn’t know, and I’ll be visiting the archives in person. You won’t try to stop me, yeah?”

“He won’t,” Ingram said.

Startled, Gavin glanced around, and he was now flanked by Ingram and Echo, two members of Ted’s crew he hadn’t expected to side with him. Joanna still looked pissed, but there was an uncertainty in her narrowed eyes as she studied Jase speculatively. Alban was checking out Darcy’s ass, so Gavin suspected the youngest enforcer didn’t care that much about what happened here.

As for Darcy, she knelt beside the plant Gavin had encouraged to grow, staring at it hard. He knew what must be running through her head, the doubts and misgivings. Various sounds of shock burst from the witnesses as Gavin sensed the energy building. Then yellow flowers appeared, blooming up and down the stalk. They looked like tiny violets with the sunny hue of buttercups, and they smelled like jasmine.

“You’re definitely a vivimancer,” he said gently.

Darcy wore a stunned look, hardly seeming able to speak. Finally she managed, “I…I just thought I’d check. It’s nothing like what we do, is it?”

Gavin shook his head. “How do you feel?”

She was starry-­eyed, wonder slowly dawning. “It’s like finding a piece I didn’t even know was missing. This is what we’re meant to be doing, isn’t it?”

“Darcy.” Joanna eyed the younger woman, and then she hugged her. “You always loved those wizard school movies.”

Jase cursed and ranted, but with his strike team turning, what the hell could he even do? Joanna was watching Darcy experiment, taking pleasure in her joy. Echo and Ingram were furious, and they weren’t the sort of men anyone ought to deceive. As for Alban, he was on his mobile, seeming done with the whole muddle. Ted stormed over to argue with Jase, and they couldn’t seem to agree what ought to be done or even if anything could be.

We win, no shots fired.

Chapter 28

Along with her entire coven, apart from Leanne, Clem watched how everything went down with the head of the witch hunting order.

Though she had no right to feel this way, she was so freaking impressed with Gavin. This didn’t make up for everything he’d done, but it was a start. And she could see how broken up he was over what he’d learned.

“Did you know?” Vanessa asked Ethel.

The older witch shook her head. “No, that’s an old, old secret. I had no idea they were witches who’d turned their power on their fellows.”

“It makes sense, though. Because it takes magic to sever magic,” Margie said.

“When I think about all the witches who are living with no clue what they’ve lost…” Kerry slammed a fist into her palm.

Priya sighed. “I wonder how the council will punish them.”

“I’d be surprised if they acknowledge their authority,” Danica said.

“Some will. The ones who had no inkling and feel like shit over being brainwashed for so long,” Clem offered.

Ethel nodded. “Those who knew and covered it up may fight, but the council has ways to deal with witches who hurt others.”

“I’m glad it’s not my problem,” Margie said. “And I’msorelieved this is over.”

Vanessa didn’t look convinced. “It takes time to dismantle anything this widespread. This might be the beginning of the end, but we’re not safe just yet.”

“Truth,” said Danica.

Priya had her phone out, scrolling through their group chat. “Leanne hasn’t answered since yesterday. Has anyone heard from her?”

With everything going on, Clem repressed a shimmer of anxiety, but she shook her head. To the best of her recollection, she hadn’t chatted with Leanne since the emergency all-­nighter at Ethel’s place. The rest of her coven sisters said more or less the same, apart from her cousin.

Danica bit her lip, then she spoke up. “Actually, I drove her to the airport yesterday.”

---